Andrew Stafford

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Andrew Stafford

James Baker was, as the title of his last solo release declared, Born to Rock. The musician, who died on Monday night aged 71, was the big beat behind the drums for a long list of influential Australian garage-rock bands including Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, the Scientists, the Dubrovniks and the Victims. His impact went deeper than the many much-mythologised records he played on. With his Brian Jones-via-Ramones bowl cut, which he wore to the end, Baker was a one-man totem of style.

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Andrew Stafford

In 1984, Paul Kelly packed up his few belongings, borrowed his father-in-law’s Holden and made the 13-hour drive from Melbourne to Sydney. He had barely a dollar in his pocket and no place to lay his head. Don Walker, who was taking a breather from the music business after the breakup of Cold Chisel, offered him a temporary refuge in his Kings Cross double-storey terrace. He had a white grand piano in the front room. Not quite 30, Kelly wasn’t even on his last chance. In industry terms, he was done.

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Andrew Stafford

The Brisbane Lions took a retro theme into their match against the Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba on Sunday night. The team rolled out in the original Brisbane Bears strip from 1987. The cute and cuddly Carrara Koala roared at diehard fans from the LED scoreboard – an unsubtle reminder of the days when the club played its “home” games a full 80 kilometres down the M1. Other relics from the past (cheerleaders; Mike Brady’s original club song) would have been better left there.

1 month ago | theguardian.com | Andrew Stafford

A tall, familiar figure is walking towards me near Bulimba Ferry on the south side of the Brisbane River. It is Cate Campbell, the Australian swimming legend who announced her retirement last June. She is carrying a slight limp. She assures me that walking is fine, as long as she stays on a hard surface, off the grass. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. We set out along the boardwalk over the river’s edge.

1 month ago | theashlandchronicle.com | Bryan Graham |Alan Chazaro |Andrew Stafford

Seemingly Normal Behaviors That TSA Will Watch You Like A Hawk For At The AirportBy Kate Prince March 19, 2025There are many things to enjoy about flying, from the snacks in the clouds and in-flight entertainment to the sheer joy of travel. That all awaits once you are up in the air, but most people will agree that getting past TSA agents can be a grueling experience.